Desk



Feb. 18, 1958 w. SARMIENTO DESK Filed Jan. 23, 1956 Illvlllll' ik gli*- DESK Application January 23, 1956, SeriaiNn. 560,731 4 Claims. (el. S12-194) This invention relates to desks, and with regard to certain more speciiic features, to desks of the so-called executive type.

Among the several objects of the invention `may be noted the provision of `a desk having simplified structural subassemblies adapted to ensure a more rigid but lightweight complete assembly; and the provisionof "a desk of the class described which, without sacrifice of a graceful appearance, is adapted to be manufactured at low cost. Other objects and features will be in ,part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the construction hereinafter described, the scope 'of `the invention being indicated in the `following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention Y,is illustrated,

Fig. l is a front elevation of my new desk as assembled;

Fig. 2 is a top plan `viewofFig. l; and,

Fig. 3 is `anexploded View of various 4elements prior to assembly.

Corresponding reference characters `indicate correspending parts throughout the several views ofthe drawings.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, front and rear chassis members are shown at numerals 1 and 3, respectively. The front chassis member 1 is constituted by a rigid subassembly of downwardly extending end legs 5, upwardly extending end supports 7, an intermediate Stringer part 9, lateral Stringer parts 11 and spaced intermediate Stringer supports 13. Parts 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 are all substantially coplanar. The rear chassis inember 3 is constituted by end legs 15, end supports 17 and a Stringer 19. These are also all substantially coplanar. The legs and 15, being of the same length, place the Stringer parts 11 and 19 at the same elevation when the planar assemblies 1 and 3 are placed in parallel forward and rearward positions, such as illustrated in Fig. 3.

At numerals 21 and 23 are shown hollow box-beam members each forming a self-sustaining compartment member. Each compartment member has sides 25, a bottom 27, a rear end 29 and a crossbrace 31 joining the upper corners of the sides 25. Each crossbrace 31 is located between an open top 33 and an open front 3S'. The outside widths W of the box beams 21 and 23 are substantially equal to the inside lengths of the lateral Stringer parts 11 between members 7 and 13. The lengths L of beams 21 and 23 are somewhat greater than the distance established between the planes of the assemblies 1 and 3 when the latter are in their assembled positions. Alignment cleats 37 may be attached to the bottoms of the members 21 and 23 in order to maintain right-angularity between members 21, 23 and 1, 3, respectively. These cleats may be nally located just within the Stringer parts 11 and 19. Alternatively, the cleats may be located outside of parts 11 and 19; or simply the rear cleat 37 may be used, inside or outside of Stringer 19.

At numeral 39 is shown a at work top wherein are 4 2,823,970 Patented Feb. 181, Y1,958

ice,

A '2 located six openings 41 for the reception` of dowels-43, extending from the upper ends of the supports k7, 13 and 17.

From the above it will be apparent that each of the elements 1, 3, 21, 23 andf39 may be made up as a separate subassembly and then ,brought` together for ucomplete assembly (see Fig. 3,). The members g1 and 3may be held in parallel positions in a suitable jig. Then the members 21 and 23 are Set into position, so as `to rest upon the two stringers 11, respectively, and at the ends of Stringer 19. Glue or other fastening means may be used between the stringers and these members.. Thisoperation brings the tops of the members 21 and 2 3 into Substantial coplanar relationship with the upper `ends of the supports 7 and 17, exclusive of the dowels 43. ,Th-en the top 39 is applied, the dowels 43 being insertedinto the openings 41 and glued. Glue may also be used at the dowels and between the upper margins of the members 21, 23 and the underside of the top 39. While the glue is drying, the entire assembly may be held in a suitable clamp or clamps. This completes the desk with the exception of the insertion into the box-beam members 21, 23 of whatever usual apparatus is desired, such as drawers, filing equipment, communication or transcribing equipment, or the like. It will be apparent that any guides, shelving, latch or lock parts, or the like, that are required within the members 21, 23 may be applied either before or after the nal assembly.

From the above, it will be seen that, exclusive rof equipment to be contained in the box beams 21 and 23, the desk is primarily constituted Vby tive unitary subassemblies 1, 3, 21, 23 and 39, each `of which can be rconveniently made up independently before any final assembly operations occur. These features considerably facilitatie the manufacture of the desk and materially reduce its cost. On the other hand, the structure is rigid in its finally assembled form, even more so than present-day desks made up of many small subassemblies and pieces. Moreover, the desk may be made lighter for a given strength and with a more graceful appearance, as the drawings suggest. ln this respect it will be noted that upright parts 7 and 17 primarily carry the load of top 39 directly to the legs 5 and 1S independently of the box beams 21 and 23 and that the latter rest upon the parts 11 and 19 and act primarily as stffeners. Subassemblies 21 and 23, being of box section, may be relatively light without sacrificing their stii'iening functions.

With regard to the chassis members 1 and 3, it will be apparent that each may be referred to as having two upright end supports, composed of members 5, 7 and 15, 17, respectively, the rear chassis member 3 having a single straight stringer 19 joining its end supports 15, 17. The forward chassis member 1 has what may be referred to as a Stringer of zigzag form and composed of elements 9, 11 and 13. The upright parts 13 of this zigzag Stringer are also in the nature of secondary supports for the top 39, and with member 9 provide a knee arch K. The lateral stringer portions 11 support the box beams 21 and 23 and with parts 7 and 13, respectively, form inverted U- shaped cradle recesses R for cradling the beams 21 and 23. If desired, two members such as 1 may be employed, one being substituted for member 3, which would produce both front and back knee arches such Vas K.

The desks may be composed of any one of various suitable materials for the purpose, such as wood, laminated wood, plastic, metal or the like. Laminated wood, or metal are particularly suitable for the chassis members 1 and 3.

In view of the above, it will be seen that. the vseveral objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that al1 matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A desk comprising two chassis members, each consisting of a unitary subassembly constituted by end supports and stringer means, at least one subassembly being constituted by a unitary transverse box beam forming a self-sustaining hollow compartment open at the front and top, at least one of said stringers being of zigzag shape to form with one of its end members a recess having a lower portion at the elevation of the other stringer means for accepting one end of said box beam, said box beam rest* ing upon and being supported by both stringers and forming a compartment for desk equipment such as drawers and the like, a top resting upon said box beam and enclosing its open top, said supports extending upward substantially to the top of the box beam, and attachments between the upper ends of said supports and said top adjacent the plane of support of said top on the box beam.

Y 2. A desk comprising two chassis members each consisting of a subassembly constituted by coplanar upright end supports and a Stringer, one of said stringers being of zigzag form having a central upper transverse member and a pair of lateral lower transverse members, the latter being in the horizontal plane of the Stringer of the other chassis member, said upper and lower transverse members being joined by intermediate upright supports which with the central upper transverse member form a knee arch, two additional subassemblies shaped as self-sustaining box beams having open fronts and also forming compartments for the reception of equipment such as drawers and the like, said lower transverse members of the zigzag Stringer with the adjacent supports forming cradles for the reception of said box beams which are supported at the same elevation on the stringers of both chassis members, a Work top positioned above said box beams and extending there- 4 from, the endwise supports of the chassis members extending upward outside of the box beams to the plane of their tops, said intermediate supports also extending upward between the box beams to the plane of the tops thereof, and means for fastening all of said supports to the top adjacent said plane.

3. A desk made according to claim 2, wherein each box beam per se is also open at the top, its sides being joined by a brace between its open front and top, said work top forming the closure means over the open tops of the beams.

4. A desk comprising two subassembled chassis members a rearward one of which is composed of a substantially straight Stringer, downwardly extending legs at the ends thereof and supports extending upward from said legs, the other forward chassis member being composed of spaced lateral Stringer members at the elevation of said straight Stringer and having downwardly extending legs at the outside ends thereof and supports extending upward from said legs with additional intermediate supports extending vupward from the inside ends of said spaced Stringer members, said intermediate supports being connected by a central Stringer to form a knee arch, whereby spaced inverted U-shaped cradles are formed, the Iupper ends of all said supports being substantially coplanar, self-sustaining box beams each having a bottom, sides and a back with a strut joining the sides at their upper forward corners, said box beams being positioned in and supported by said cradles respectively, and a top attached to the upper ends of said supports and covering said box beams, the latter forming desk equipment compartments.

References Cited in the tle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 118,930 Frushour Feb. 13, 1940 D. 174,923 Reineman June 7, 1955 1,649,805 Brainard Nov. 22, 1927 2,191,290 Richardson Feb. 20, 1940- 

